Utility Max-Min: An Application-Oriented Bandwidth Allocation Scheme

In this paper, we consider the use of an application-layer performance measure — the utility — in the context of bandwidth allocation for an available bit rate service. Our bandwidth allocation scheme can be viewed as a generalization of traditional available bit rate service; our scheme is equivalent to bandwidth max-min allocation when the utility of all applications are equal. The goal of our allocation scheme is to provide good application-layer service to a wide diversity of applications sharing available bandwidth. We achieve this goal while also supporting changes in utility over time, tolerating some inaccuracy in utility function specification, and addressing the issue of circumvention through pricing. Keywords—Utility functions, available bit rate.